Perforated appendicitis as a source of Fournier’s gangrene in an immunocompetent male

Authors

  • Nasser Alzerwi Alzerwi Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia
  • Mohammed Alshanwani Department of Surgery, King Salman Hospital, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Afnan Sultan Alsultan Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia
  • Sulaiman Almutairi Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia
  • Yasser Ibrahim Aldebasi Department of Surgery, King Salman Hospital, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Bandar Idrees Ali Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-2902.isj20194446

Keywords:

Appendicitis, Fournier’s gangrene, Polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis

Abstract

Fournier’s gangrene is a synergetic polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis of the perianal, perineal and genital areas, it is a rare condition and it has a high mortality rate of up to 67%. Acute appendicitis has been identified as another cause of Fournier’s gangrene. This case demonstrates the critical importance of considering a diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene because of a missing diagnosis of appendicitis even if the patient is young, healthy, immunocompetent and without a background of abdominal pain. We discuss a case of 35-year-old male, immunocompetent and medically free, who was presented to Emergency Department with a clinical picture of Fournier’s gangrene due to acute perforated appendicitis without a history of abdominal pain, and within 48 hours of the onset of bilateral scrotal swelling. Our case demonstrates the importance of considering Fournier’s gangrene as a complication of an intra-abdominal septic process, even in a young, healthy, immunocompetent patient.

References

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Published

2019-09-26

Issue

Section

Case Reports